Inactivation and spike protein denaturation of novel coronavirus variants by CuxO/TiO2 nano-photocatalysts

Abstract

In order to reduce infection risk of novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), we developed nano-photocatalysts with nanoscale rutile TiO2 (4–8 nm) and CuxO (1–2 nm or less). Their extraordinarily small size leads to high dispersity and good optical transparency, besides large active surface area. Those photocatalysts can be applied to white and translucent latex paints. Although Cu2O clusters involved in the paint coating undergo gradual aerobic oxidation in the dark, the oxidized clusters are re-reduced under > 380 nm light. The paint coating inactivated the original and alpha variant of novel coronavirus under irradiation with fluorescent light for 3 h. The photocatalysts greatly suppressed binding ability of the receptor binding domain (RBD) of coronavirus (the original, alpha and delta variants) spike protein to the receptor of human cells. The coating also exhibited antivirus effects on influenza A virus, feline calicivirus, bacteriophage Qβ and bacteriophage M13. The photocatalysts would be applied to practical coatings and lower the risk of coronavirus infection via solid surfaces.

Effect of dislocations on carrier recombination and photoelectrochemical activity in polished and unpolished TiO2 and SrTiO3 crystals

“…Strontium titanate (SrTiO 3 ) is a cubic perovskite oxide with a bandgap of 3.2 eV and exhibits promising photocatalytic activity in water-splitting reactions. [12][13][14][15][16] In recent decades, powder or nanoscale crystallite forms of TiO 2 [17][18][19][20][21][22][23] and SrTiO 3 [24][25][26][27][28][29][30] have been extensively investigated and have displayed promising photocatalytic performances. These powder and nanocrystalline structures increase the contact area with the solution and the area exposed to solar light; theoretically, PEC activity is also expected to be enhanced with these structures.…”

Light-Induced Transformation of Virus-Like Particles on TiO2

“… 19 Several metal oxide-based photocatalysts, such as CuO 20 and TiO 2, 8 and nanoparticle decorated metal oxides (e.g., Ag/TiO 2 , 21 Au/ZnO, 22 and Pd/TiO 2 8 ) have been used for virus inactivation. In most work reported so far, the reaction is performed in the liquid phase in the presence of a catalyst and virus suspension, 9 , 23 , 24 and there is a lack of knowledge concerning the inactivation mechanism.…”